Tom kha gai soup FTW. Love it!

Analog

Lifer
Jan 7, 2002
12,755
3
0
Had this soup the other day for the first time. WOW!:D Love it. Now I want to make some at home!

picP3vrtB.jpg


Tom kha gai (Lao: ຕົ້ມຂ່າໄກ່; Thai: ต้มข่าไก่, RTGS: tom kha kai, IPA: [tôm kʰàː kàj]), literally "chicken galangal soup") is a spicy hot soup in Laotian cuisine and Thai Cuisine. This soup is made with coconut milk, galangal, lemon grass and chicken. The fried chillies add a smoky flavor as well as texture, color and heat, but not so much that it overwhelms the soup. The key is to get a taste balance between the spices. Thai-style tom kha gai does not use dill weed, whereas Laotian-style tom kha gai usually contains "phak si" (dill weed), which is a common herb used in Laotian cuisine. The Thais' answer to dill weed (known in Thailand as "phak chi Lao", since its known as a Laotian herb) in Tom kha is coriander or cilantro ("phak chi" in Thai). There are other versions made with seafood (tom kha thale), mushroom (tom kha het), and tofu (tom kha taohu). All follow a similar recipe.

Ingredients:

Servings:
8 8 8Servings Size




  • Update




Directions:

Prep Time: 1 1/4 hr
Total Time: 1 1/4 hr


  1. 1 In 4qt or larger, heavy-bottomed pot, begin heating chicken broth and coconut milk on low-medium heat.
  2. 2 Add the other ingredients for the broth, down through the brown sugar, as you prepare them.
  3. 3 Bring broth to a slow simmer; never allow it to reach a rolling boil, and do not cover it at any time during cooking.
  4. 4 When broth is simmering, begin adding remaining ingredients starting with the chicken, as you prepare them in the order listed, stirring regularly.
  5. 5 Make sure the chicken is fully cooked by the time you add the cilantro--if you cube the chicken finely enough and use a normal length of time preparing the vegetables, this should not be an issue, but allow it to simmer a few extra minutes if necessary before adding the cilantro.
  6. 6 About a minute after adding the cilantro, taste the soup and add some additional lime juice as desired to punch up the flavor (maybe 1-2 T--don't overdo it!).
:wub::wub:
 

Daishiki

Golden Member
Nov 9, 2001
1,943
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I was trying to guess if it was Thai or Vietnamese by the name. I could guess that it was chicken. Looks delicious.
 

joesmoke

Diamond Member
Nov 2, 2007
5,420
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one of my favorties, though ive never had it where it looked like that pic
 

Ninjahedge

Diamond Member
Mar 2, 2005
4,149
1
91
One of mine too, although the place we got it at it was called:

Tom Yung Kai - I think this is the chicken
Tom Yung Koong - I believe this is shrimp.

The lemongrass, lemon, ginger, hot and sweet seasoning with a dab of fish sauce (not so much so you really notice it) is awesome.

Great for colds/congestion too!

Unfortunately, one "half' of the ownership sold out and all their dishes got sweeter. I really hate over-sugared (americanized) asian food!
 

sjwaste

Diamond Member
Aug 2, 2000
8,757
12
81
I've never had it with the rice noodles, and I like straw mushrooms in it better than white.
 

zinfamous

No Lifer
Jul 12, 2006
111,585
30,836
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It's good. Though I've always been a fan of chinese take-out Hot and Sour. that is one of my favorite dishes.
 

Ms. DICKINSON

Golden Member
May 17, 2010
1,221
1
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bit.ly
One of mine too, although the place we got it at it was called:

Tom Yung Kai - I think this is the chicken
Tom Yung Koong - I believe this is shrimp.

Tom *YUM* / curry
I love these stuff. I grew up eating Thai food so gotta stock up. It's pretty much good for everything with meat, stir fried or curry soup.
*shrimp curry paste*

shrimpx.jpg
 

Ninjahedge

Diamond Member
Mar 2, 2005
4,149
1
91
Ms. D, yeah, I was just being phoenetic. (I have seen these things spelled a few different ways, but I have also seen the jars of paste that you have shown....)

I grew up on traditional slimy "asian" food. LOVED it as a kid. But, after college and being introduced to things that I did not even bother asking "what is this" I started exploring more.

AFTER college is when I really got into Thai, Malaysian and other foods (Sushi as well). My trip out on a temp job in Cali also helped with that (where even generic cheap chinese was better than I ever had before).

Now, living closer to NYC, Thai, Malaysian, "Chinese", Japanese and Korean are a lot easier to find......


I could use a good bowl of Tom Yum Kai........ (Trapped in suburban job)
 

DesiPower

Lifer
Nov 22, 2008
15,299
740
126
Thai cuisine FTW by default..

Dont even worry about making it at home, home can never give you the restaurant flavor.
 

BrokenVisage

Lifer
Jan 29, 2005
24,771
14
81
It may taste good but in no way does that soup look tasty to me. Frankly, it's hard for me to find any Asian cuisine appealing, even soups lol.
 

Ninjahedge

Diamond Member
Mar 2, 2005
4,149
1
91
Actually, aside from the lemongrass sprouts, the TYK i used to get just looked like medium brown spicy chicken.

You can add your own noodles to it if you want. Celophane noodles work pretty well.....


BTW, that picture does not do the dish justice. Ironically, the only thing that makes it look kind of icky is the large amount of noodles in it.

Something you rarely get in many soups. Actual solid food... ;)
 

brainhulk

Diamond Member
Sep 14, 2007
9,376
454
126
thai coconut soup is da bomb. but so is the pho. I can't decide which one I like more
 

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
102,389
8,547
126
One of mine too, although the place we got it at it was called:

Tom Yung Kai - I think this is the chicken
Tom Yung Koong - I believe this is shrimp.

The lemongrass, lemon, ginger, hot and sweet seasoning with a dab of fish sauce (not so much so you really notice it) is awesome.

Great for colds/congestion too!

Unfortunately, one "half' of the ownership sold out and all their dishes got sweeter. I really hate over-sugared (americanized) asian food!

tom yam and tom kha are different soups.